My testimony about the power of women in this world and in the home

Must have missed posting this one....  Junta de Zona

This week has been an interesting one! We had a personal visit from the zone leaders to see how my progress is going and to check on our companionship. I learned so much from these two young men it was really incredible. They made me feel like I was a great missionary even though I recognize I have many weakness´s and difficulties.

Well I don't know if you all have heard this or not but in 2 weeks we will be having the pleasure of hearing from Elder Bednar the 16th of may and it is a mystery to everyone why he is coming. I can not wait to hear specific instruction from this inspired servant of the lord for our mission. We have been studying a lot of his talks especially, "the answer is the doctrine" and it has changed the way that I read everything in my mission. I have started to look for the doctrine, the simple foundational, eternal truths, set out for our eternal progression. I know that we have the truth and fullness in the gospel because everyday I look and find the harmony of a gospel that has and will be foundationally the same forever.

So I have taken a whole bunch of pictures that I am so excited to share with you all!! Another day because I am on a really bad computer for that today :( I know its sad and I apologize. My companion and I like to have fun in between study and after planning at night that's all I will say about the pictures.

A spiritual experience this week. We have been working with this couple for the longest time and for about a week I have been wanting to asked each one specifically if they are ready for baptism. I know that the wife has a genuine desire for the truth and I have thought that she has received an answer. I asked her and she looked at her husband and I could see she wanted to and that he just needed to say yes and he did! The husband has some things that he wants to work on before he commits but I think that he will be following the example of his wife.

I want to share my testimony about the power of women in this world and in the home. In this world there is a big push for equality and I am all for that I know that the lord does not want anyone to feel that they are being deprived of any of there god given free agency. However there are things that inherently we don't have the capacity to do. I recognize the power of a strong women in the home and the power that they have. I remember one time in my life when I wanted to stop going to church and no one was going to change my mind. My mother had another idea she shared scripture and testimony stronger than any discipline I could have received. I know that women have a greater capacity for many things. When I think of the true spiritual leader of the home it is always the mother she is the power direction to the family. This Mothers Day I want to invite you all to think about a special moment with your mothers and share that with them. I know that they will love it appreciate these spiritual giants we have in our lives.

I love you all and I know that the lord will demonstrate the small but powerful miracles in your life if you are looking with your spiritual eyes.
DC 43: 49-52

Love,
Elder Packham

  SILLY PHOTOS OF MICHAEL & MOM

Counting the days till that Christmas Skype Call!!!  Just sayin'

He looks and sounds great!!!

I have decided to throw my own post into Michael...aka Elder Packham's blog.  We just had our first Skype session with Elder Packham and I can proudly say that it was a HUGE success!!!

There is probably nothing better as a missionary mom then seeing your missionary for the first time after they have left home.  I wanted to leap through the computer and squeeze his guts out!!!! haha  So here are a few things he shared:

• He loves his companion
• He loves his ward
• He loves his investigators
• He is walking a lot
• He has lost some weight
• His Spanish is coming along but he still wants us to pray for the gift of tongues - haha
• All the walking is wearing out his shoes very quickly
• They can only use the bathroom in their apartment
• He loves the food 
• He needs a tide pen
• He loves his mission president
• He loves the Book of Mormon and the power of prayer

It was AWESOME to hear him bear his testimony in Spanish!!!! I had no idea what he was saying but it brought tears to my eyes! It was filled with the spirit and it filled me with gratitude and love.

His testimony is growing by leaps and bounds and though I know that our testimony is constantly growing - I thought his was pretty darn amazing before he left!!!! He just radiates light and goodness. He loves the Lord with all his heart, mind and soul!  IT. IS. AWESOME.

Seeing My Eternal Family!!!!!!!!

So Ladies and Gentlemen we have pictures this week I hope you all enjoy them! I had to plead with someone for this computer for a chance to send them so y'all better think they are the bomb.com. One is of me when we cleansed our house of all the garbage from the past with a bag from the presidents wife that was gigantic! Another is my trainer and I with Elder Jones our zone leader and Elder Candilario (i spelled that wrong) an assistant for a personal training that we had.

Well the high light of the week is probably something you might have guessed from my title. I got to call my family for the first time! It went by so fast but I got to share so much of my mission with them I'm just sad that you all couldn't listen in. I was in the bishops house and used his laptop and the connection was pretty good only had one hichup.

We have seen amazing miracles in our ward.

So I will share the coolest thing about the about this week missionary wise! We had a missionary come home from his full two year mission and the first thing he does is have a family home evening. Here everyone practically lives in apartments cause there are so many people. So the mom invited everyone in the building and the surrounding building to and ohh man was that great. It was packed with people! We gave a short lesson, had an activity, and before having the food we had received 8 references for people that want a little more happiness in there lives! We talked to all of them in 24 hours because that was our goal and we also wanted to help people remember why.

Also we have been going through our area book for people that have been interested in the past but haven't progressed and what not. We have found some people that are now genuinely interested in changing! The Lord really prepares people for us to teach.

Alright my spiritual thought for this week. The difference between happiness and joy is one of few words but great sentiment. I have been learning that a lot of the mission as I see these families that have everything spiritual and are rich in these things. I know that its possible to buy happiness. Let me clarify I know that its possible to buy temporary happiness. If you want true happiness the joy of the gospel there is only one place to find it and that is with Christ. I know that He is the well that we all must draw from in our darkest days. I know He will provide for us forever he is the well that will never run dry in our lives.

My scripture for today is DC 42: 49 - 53. I love these scriptures because they talk about faith and belief and the power of these things. I know that with Christ everything is possible and I know that he will help up overcome our trials. Sometimes we feel weak and lame but like it says in verse 51 we will be able to leap over our obstacles. Verse 53 is for families we all have our roles if we perform them with Christ we will be a boon and help for our family.

Love,
Elder Packham

The scripture that Elder Packham reference:
Doctrine & Covenants 42: 49-53
 49 He who hath faith to see shall see.
 50 He who hath faith to hear shall hear.
 51 The lame who hath faith to leap shall leap.
 52 And they who have not faith to do these things, but believe in me, have power to become my sons; and inasmuch as they break not my laws thou shalt bear their infirmities.
 53 Thou shalt stand in the place of thy stewardship.

Here are some pictures that Elder Packham shared:

Going after the one....

My first cambio

So this week I made notes so that when it came time to write I was prepared! This week has been interesting we had a lot of training but still managed to get a lot of work done! I wish I could send you all pictures this week but yet again I am on a computer that needs some tlc so I will wait for next week.

Last week mom wanted to know about all the food that I have liked so far on the mission. That's a hard question because I have liked pretty much all of it the thing is that there is so much of it! Here they plan on 2 courses and because I am American they plan two plates of the main course for me. I didn't have a big stomach before my mission and I was raised to accept what I am offered and eat it all so sometimes I struggle! haha. So first was Marizco with shrimp! It was so good they have this version of ketchup here that is to die for! Then their is this pie with cheese and sarsomora which I think is blueberry but to be honest I was in heaven so I didn't ask specifics. Finally a type of water that you make from oatmeal it sounds weird but its so good! Weird thing that's good rice and bananas that's good stuff but a different combination.

Back to more spiritual things! So teaching like crazy has helped me so much with some of the challenges that we face the days that we teach a bunch its like being on a cloud. The days that we walk up and down our area are tiring and not as fulfilling but I know that these days of extremely hard work are the foundation for the good days. Funny story about one of our investigators he basically asked if he could just got to church listen to our lessions forever but never give up drinking. It was needless to say a little heartbreaking! haha

I learned a lot this week from a young adult in our ward. She received a list of less active young adults and started calling people on the list and getting information. When she felt comfortable she asked us to help her find people (because in Mexico there are no rules for addresses) So we started to help her and found two families that were not on our lists and that have been wayward for two years or more!

My testimony about going after the 1 that's lost. We typically visit between 6 and 8 less/inactive members a week and a lot of the time they still don't come to church. However we keep working and keep cultivating and hoping that one week that commitment will be fulfilled and we saw it. Not only that we all receive a lot of opportunities to share with people in the household that aren't members.

For my scripture this week I want to share the picture I have picked for my mission scripture. D&C 123: 16-17 This scripture is so beautiful, simple, and powerful. A lot of times we are this ship we have a huge faith and we think we are progressing but we forget the little things and the little things are what guide us. When we are in the middle of the storm and we have done all that we can will we be calm and at peace. This scripture is about work and patience when we have both we will succeed in life and in a mission. Ask yourself everyday what kind of ship you are. A barge that needs to be dragged through, a sail boat that's only good with good weather or an oceanliner that will press forward undeterred. I love you all press forward!

Elder Packham

Here is Michael's mission scripture:

D&C 123:16-17

16. You know, brethren, that a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and and waves.
17. Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.

I have given this a lot of thought.  Here are some of those thoughts......Be assured that there is a safe harbor. You can find peace amidst the storms that threaten you. Your Heavenly Father knows of your heartaches and suffering. He loves you and wants the best for you. Never doubt this. He has promised the faithful peace even in their trials and tribulations. And how beautiful that is. That we can find perfect peace through Him because he provided a way for us to find comfort in times of distress. God isn’t asking us to conquer the world, or do the impossible. He is simply asking us to try our best, and make the best with what we have been given. And stand still. God expects us to have enough faith to stand still when difficult times arise, and enough determination to trust in his plan for each and everyone of us. God is anxiously waiting to help us through this journey we signed up for, and I couldn't be happier that through Him, we can find peace and everlasting happiness. 

I can clearly see why Michael has chosen this as a mission scripture.  What a great message to share with those he teaches. It is a good reminder for me that God isn't asking me to conquer the world or do the impossible - he is simply asking me to do my best!!! And let's not forget that we need stand still when difficult times arise and have trust in His plan for us.

I found this talk by Joseph B Wirthlin that I want to share with you.  

It is entitled, Concern for the One. 

True disciples of Jesus Christ have always been concerned for the one.

Bed Bugs and Big Miracles

When I read the subject line on this email, I immediately thought "EWWW!"

So this was a really eventful week. i hope that is evident by the title haha! We have had some great success and hard times this week but that's what makes a mission interesting. I have been working a lot on myself this week. Every week we talk about how teaching about the Savior is our central purpose but I find myself asking more and more am I teaching like the Savior. I have been turning to Him more and more every day because I am weak. And I am only a young adult with the responsibility to share and invite others to come unto Christ. I know that He strengthens me every day and I hope that every day I am changing little by little.

Every day we have huge plans and we think that we will take on the world but that really isn't possible. We end up teaching maybe one to 3 lessons but they are so powerful that you cant deny the hand of the lord in this work. We thought that we would have our first baptism this week but it feel through. The family is having a really hard time so it might not happen. We did find these two kids that had been waiting for permission and finally got it! So we will be hoping for that in the first week of next month. I don't know if I shared this but here in Mexico you need the person to go to church for 5 weeks because we want converts in the mission not just baptisms.

We have been working on our companionship unity this week. Its amazing how much I see that this is preparing me for a marriage in the future. We have to work together with the spirit if we hope to accomplish anything and that is so true in a family. I hope I will learn how to be an amazing teacher for my family in the future. I realized when you teach doctrine and principles and let people chose for themselves that's when they truly change.

Our calling is to invite and it's heartbreaking when people don't accept the wonderful gift of this gospel but I feel confident when we teach with the spirit they at least have the seed in there hearts. I would encourage everyone to study preach my gospel it isnt just a magical manual for missionaries ans]d instructions for our whole life on how to be better.

So I have bed bugs and thats fun for my whole time here I have thought that I was immune because one night I had to sleep on a bed with bed bugs but nothing happend. I was sadly disappointed when I found out that bed bugs like guiro blood and latino blood. On another funny note I tried to pray in english yesterday and my thoughts were in spanish and it was suprisingly hard! The 5 of may is going to be interesting family!

My spiritual thought is that we are written on the hands of christ literally. When he completed the atonement he chose to leave the marks in his hands, feet, and side. He did that to help us know that we are always with him that he recognizes our needs and challenges. Never think you are beyond the aid of the savior because he is always looking for an opportunity to help us and reach out.
Psalms 23: 1-4

Love,
Elder Packham

Psalms 46:10

God is our refuge and strength—He dwells in His city, does marvelous things, and says, Be still and know that I am God.

So this week was an interesting week. The week of vacations here in mexico so it was near impossible to find people so teaching was really hard. We ended up only finding one investigator this week. She is an all star though and was a person we haven't talked to in awhile. She has cancer but one of the biggest testimony and faith that I have seen.

I forgot my journal this week sad day I'm so sorry. We had an opportunity to do service this week and that was really cool! I have some good news I have pictures today! Are you excited? I am! haha It took me a half hour of fighting with the computer but we have success!

I would love to hear from you all feel free to write me I promise I will do my best to get back to you some times its hard. This week I have been studying patience and humility in the work because these are attributes of the Savior. I love the time that I get to study on a mission its so great.

So the food here I don't know that I have told you all this but its so good! So different but so great luckily the members are amazing about understanding this gringo can't handle the hot stuff so they dim it down for me but its a process i am actually developing a taste for it! Also we don't really take time for dinner we just have a giant lunch and then work until we go home at night!

The other elders in our ward had a baptism two actually but it was because these members didn't have there records in order it was the strangest thing but so cool for them.

We had a lot of success visiting members and less actives and you can see the difference in the church. Its just hard because its the kind of things that don't actually get counted in our reports. We also had a lady in the ward pass away which was really sad but it really showed that people handle grief the same everywhere in the world, lots of food and family.

I want to share with you all my testimony about the  Book of Mormon because I cant even begin to tell you how powerful this book is and how it came to be. This book is for our day and it was written for each and everyone of us we just need to pick it up and we will find the answers of our soul. I really like how Jacob puts it in chapter 4 verses 6 though 10. The final verse really speaks to me "take counsel of my hands" we have in our hands the words that created this earth and us and everything! often we pass right by them and don't read them that's so sad to me!! I love you all so I will be very clear READ THE BOOK!

Elder Packham

Here are some pictures:

I love you all!!!

So here in mexico they have this thing called semana santa which is very different. The people here do these representations of the crucifixions of Christ. We weren't really affected but other missions have to stay inside all kinds of other stuff. This week was amazing in a different way it was really hard to find people because of vacations and other things but we still taught a lot of members and stuff.

One thing you wont ever have to worry about mom is that I'll starve people here just give us food and lots of it. Every time we enter a house we get something depending on the mood. Most of the time its a lot of food haha. Lucky we walk everywhere so everything that i do eat doesn't stick around long thanks to the heat. My companion is always in a long sleeve shirt and hes always saying its hot but it doesn't phase him to much.

Have I told you all about my companion? Hes 24 and serving a mission hardly 2 hours from your home! He could take a taxi home but hes serving. He has a degree and worked as an administrator in a school to save for his mission. The guy is so humble and really knowledgeable about the scriptures.

This week was conference and that was so crazy! We had two zones in the stake center and the assistants to the president are in my district so they were there too. We all pitched in and had a feast of little ceasars pizza and soda it was a little hard because we didn't get much work done but it was nice to be around a bunch of missionaries and a little hard because we talked in English a lot and the switch was a little hard. We watched conference in English also so that was so nice! I use the word watch very liberally because the picture was terrible and if you had epilepsy you would have probably been in trouble.

I would encourage everyone to watch the talk by Elder Wilford W Anderson it was truly amazing. Hear the music of the gospel I implore you it will enrich your life beyond anything that you can imagine. The dance of living with the gospel my be complicated and require a lot of sacrifice but the music when your truly feel it in your soul is incredible!

I love you all! In my studies this week I found some verses I really like in the Book of Mormon about the connection between faith and hope I would encourage you all to read them! Moroni 7: 40-43

Love,
Elder Packham

Below is a video link to the conference talk that Elder Packham referenced.

Elder Wilford W. Anderson
The Music of the Gospel

Elder Packham spoke briefly about faith and hope and the scriptures in Moroni. Faith is such an important part of my life and who I am.  It is the basis of all that I am.  As I update the blog I am currently at Time Out for Women in Kansas City.  Jenny Oaks Baker said something last night about faith that I really appreciated.  She said that when her mother was ill with cancer she felt that if she had enough faith, her mother would be healed.  She wanted to have that kind of faith.  Well, her father Elder Dallin H Oaks gave her great counsel on faith.  He said that true faith is turning our will over to the Lord's.  It is believing that 'He's got this' and that no matter what, all will be well. Here is the thing I know, Faith is a choice. Faith brings peace.... of this, I have no doubt.

Bishop Richard C. Edgley
Faith - the Choice Is Yours